Woo-Tang Clams ain't nothin to shuck with! Review of 'Adventures in Comfort Food' cookbook and #Giveaway

Disclosure: I received this cookbook to review free of charge. No additional compensation was given to me.  All opinions are my own.  Spoiler alert: My opinion is that it's awesome.

When we first got married, I told my husband my dream kitchen would include an entire bookshelf full of cookbooks.  Thanks to blogging, my dream is slowly coming true!  I've been given some really awesome cookbooks to review over the past few months.  One of my favorites is Adventures in Comfort Food by the owner of Cafe Miranda in Rockland, Maine, Kerry Altiero (with Katherine Gaudet).

What drew me to this book is definitely the choice of names for each dish listed.  From Steak Bombs to Vacation in Your Mouth to my all time favorite... Woo-Tang Clam.  I smiled the whole time reading it!  But what KEPT me reading was the way all the recipes made my mouth water.  Kerry Altiero has a great way of taking comfort foods to the next level.  Every picture is beautiful and the recipes are very easy to follow.  If I ever get up to Maine again, I will definitely be stopping by Cafe Miranda.

I have only tried one recipe so far: Woo-Tang Clam, but plan on trying as many as I can.  So without further ado, here is the recipe for...

Woo-Tang Clam

• 8 hard-shell clams (mahogany or similar), well washed
• 2 oz/57 g pork loin, cut into 1⁄4"/6 mm strips
• 2 oz/60 ml fermented black bean and garlic sauce (look for it in the ethnic section of your grocery store, or check out your local Chinese grocery)
• 1⁄4 cup/42 g red sweet pepper, seeded and ripped into 1"/2.5 cm pieces
• 2 scallions, cut on the bias
• 6 tbsp/90 ml fish stock (vegetable stock is a fine substitute)
• 3 sprigs cilantro
• 2 lemon wedges

In a 3-quart/3 L saucepan over high heat, mix the clams, pork, bean sauce, red pepper, scallions and fish stock. Cover and bring to a boil, then lower the heat to keep it at a simmer. Cook until the clams open, about 8 minutes.

Pour into a bowl and top with the cilantro. Give the lemon wedges a squeeze.

I left out the cilantro and used vegetable stock, and guess what?  My daughter and I loved it!  She ate the clams and I ate the pork.  I only wish I had some white rice to pour the whole thing over.

Now that we've tried and loved one recipe, I can't wait to dig into the others.  And I want you to, too!  I have been given the opportunity to give away a copy of Adventures in Comfort Food to one lucky reader!  

Due to technical difficulties, the Giveaway is extended for ONE MORE WEEK!  Now ends 12/8/14 at noon EST! Just leave a comment answering "What's your favorite comfort food?" and you will be entered to win!*

But don't worry if you don't win this time.  Adventures in Comfort Food is available through Amazon.  Here is my affiliate link, if you would like to use it.  ( That just means if you click the link and decide to purchase the book through it, I might receive a tiny commission for which I would be grateful.)  

 

Recipe and photos by Kerry Altiero and Katherine Gaudet from Adventures in Comfort Food: Incredible, Delicious and New Recipes from a Unique, Small-Town Restaurant printed with permission of Page St. Publishing.

*Open to US residents 18 years or older only.  Prize not guaranteed.